How to Evaluate Aspartame Risks

Recent studies published by many health experts have emphasized the dangers of the artificial sweetener aspartame. This sweetener has been found to be the culprit to many of our population's unexplained health crises, primarily headaches. Other common symptoms of aspartame toxicity include dizziness, abdominal problems, vision changes, brain tumors, cancer and even obesity. Some are more sensitive to the effects of aspartame than others, but science has proven that anyone who consumes this product is putting health at risk.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Labels

1. Read food labels, especially on those items stating that they are sugar-free. Aspartame will be listed in the ingredients or there will be a phenylalanine warning on the bottom of the label.

2. Evaluate how much aspartame you are consuming. The recommended daily limit set forth by the EPA is 7.8mg. A 1 liter diet beverage contains about 56mg of aspartame.

3. Keep an eye out for hidden sources of aspartame. Not only is it found in diet sodas, but it's also used to sweeten lemonade, tea, flavored drink mixes, puddings and gelatins, breath mints and gums, cereals and even dried fruits.

Little Known Dangers

4. Be aware of the dangers of aspartame in order to make well-informed food purchases. Aspartame is partially made up of wood alcohol, or methanol. Methanol is highly toxic on its own, but it's metabolized by the body into formaldehyde (better known as embalming fluid) and formic acid, which is the same component that makes up the venom of fire ants.

5. Understand the FDA's point of view. Their argument is that, although there is no denying that aspartame contains methanol, it is not possible to prove any potential health hazards as methanol is also a naturally occurring element in many fruits and vegetables. What they neglect to mention is that fruits and vegetables also contain pectin and ethanol, which counteract the methanol. Aspartame does not contain either of these substances, both of which keep the body from metabolizing the methanol into formaldehyde and other toxins.

6. Note that it took the FDA more than 8 years to approve the use of aspartame. Reliable sources can confirm that after years of denials, it wasn't until the appointment of a new FDA Commissioner (who, incidentally, later went to work for the PR firm of the original owner of aspartame) that the use of this sweetener finally went into effect.

Tips & Warnings

• Do your own research. The information in this article is in no way meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is advised, however, that if you are an avid consumer of aspartame and are exhibiting any unexplained symptoms that you see your doctor. It is also recommended that consumption by young children and pregnant women should be avoided.

Resources

• Articles on the dangers of aspartame

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[gwenh]

on 3/19/2009 The content of this how-to cannot be verified and should not be taken at face value. Though the jargon sounds officious, it does not refer to any actual scientific studies by anyone. It seems to simply restate the oft forwarded false email chain letter that originated in the mid 1990's by a woman named Betty Martini.DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH! Here are a few sites you can search in 5 minutes. At each site, type the word, aspartame into the Search field and click the Go or Search button. You'll have your answer within seconds.Urban Legends: urbanlegends.about.comSnopes: snopes.comNational Library of Medicine _ PubMed This one is for those who want to see the hard, verifiable data data. PubMed is a database of published, peer reviewed journal articles . It contains published results of 20 years of research on aspartame!. The first study cited was in 1973! Check it out for yourself. http://ww